First, a huge thanks to the author, Sophie Jordan, the publisher, Avon, and NetGalley for the privilege of being able to read a digital copy of A Fire in the Sky. I will post review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble upon release! Initially, I was interested in the YA romantasy description, as I’m a fan of the genre. I will say the cover, sprayed edges, and endpapers for the special edition hardcover are definitely something that would catch my eye in a bookstore and made me want to stop and pick it up to read the description/blurbs. Perfect fall fantasy read with enemies-to-lovers tension, dragons, and magic galore.

I was drawn in by the characters Tamsyn and Fell, their chemistry, and I was rooting for them the entire time. There are lovely world-building details and character development that you follow by perspective shifts between the main characters. The transitions are easy to follow and I enjoyed both perspectives. There’s a good balance between plot, world-building, and character development, and the setting felt like it added some new things to a fantasy read.

This one ends on a cliffhanger, so be forewarned! You’ll want to get the next one already once you read this one. It’s definitely a set up for a series that I will be looking forward to continuing.

We follow Tamsyn, who is being forced to marry the Beast of the Borderlands, our other main character, Fell. There’s passion and fire between them even though they have secrets - and their union is threatened by the instability of the political environment as well as their own tension. The lore of the world they existed within was especially interesting and made me want to learn more.

I really liked the plot, but the writing style felt pretty basic and for a younger audience than the romantasy I am used to reading. The sentences just felt a tad choppy at times and could’ve been combined to make it a bit more flowy? I’m not sure. I definitely had a roller coaster of emotions reading this one and interested to see how it continues.

Would recommend to anyone who likes an arranged marriage storyline, enemies-to-lovers, ya fantasy/romantasy, will they/won’t they romance, dragons and magic, and medieval-esque settings.

3.7/5 stars, rounding up.

A quick and easy romantasy, which is exactly what I needed after reading Parable of the Talents. This isn't anything special -- the plot has been done before, the characters aren't really anything new or noteworthy. All the same, I did find myself enjoying it, perhaps because I'd just read some Octavia Butler (and a brutal Butler novel at that) and needed a brain reset. This solidifies my opinion that most romantasy novels are not for me, however. This type of novel isn't something I would normally seek out on my own.

This was so much fun! A little predictable at times, but I was glued to the story and cannot wait to see what happens in following book(s)!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very enjoyable read, especially because I was on a dragon romantasy kick trying to fill the hole of another series that I love. It was pretty easy to see some of the revelations coming, so if you're hoping for strong mystery you might be disappointed. But if you're a character driven reader who likes to see some romantic tension, this is a great book for you. I really want to see where the story goes, and learn more about the universe its in too, so here's hoping the next book gets published soon!

I LOVED this book! It had my favorite tropes of enemies to lovers + forced proximity + “arranged” marriage. I love how the world building is coupled with history of the world and how things have come to pass and change. I think it was always clear to me that they were both something other, but THAT i did not predict but i LOVED it. Their chemistry is just an absolute *chef’s kiss* and I devoured it. There are several characters met along the way that I believe will come back to play a bigger role in the future books. I could also see a few of them also being other and hope if that’s the case it becomes a found family thing. ANYWAYS, I ate this up and it’s a perfect fantasy read for the fall. I cannot WAIT for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Jordan, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book but it sounded right up my alley and it sure was! I still have a lot of questions, especially with how this book ended, and look forward to reading more!

It's such a good concept and a fast read, but this one didn’t do it for me.

1. Too repetitive - we keep getting the same things said 3+ times and even within pages and paragraphs between each other.
2. The different perspectives didn’t flow well together. Instead of a continuous timeline flow between each POV, it was more like they retold the same things that happened without new information.
3. It's not necessarily “telling and not showing,” but there is basically barely any dialogue. It’s mostly the two MC’s inner monologues about their feelings and some history with a bit of action here and there, so it's not exactly “telling and not showing,” but also kinda?… if you're able to understand any of what I meant, haha.
4. I don't feel the FMC and MMC’s relationship AT ALL; it lacks substance.
I mean, get a load of this… its a doozy: We have them not talking on their journey, then when they finally talk and decide to try to make it work, something (that I can’t tell you because of spoilers) happens, and that’s when he goes crazy, and he decides he can’t live without her. Then we get nothing on the rest of their journey back, but they immediately wanna fuck, and things happen. They distance themselves again, then he is willing to drop everything for her; something else (I can’t tell you again because of spoilers) happens again, he gets angry with her, they fuck again, and ending with him still somewhat angry, but they are fine holding hands. It’s like that bond that they feel is the only thing that tells them why they are drawn to each other and want each other because they barely even talk!
5. Honestly, I feel like all relationships between characters just aren’t fleshed out enough for me to believe them. They all feel a little flat.
6. Hate Stig… but I also don’t really like Fell either because we don’t get much from him. Just inner monologue but no interactions or dialogue with others. He’s somewhat boring, and he kind of has a blah personality to me because we don’t get much in terms of actions or dialogue from him, only his inner monologue, his character/personality, and his development throughout the book lack a lot of substance (again that word), in fact, all the characters do.
7. I keep picturing the dragons as people with dragon features from the way she wrote about them. Ex: “ I brought my knees up to my chest, hugging myself tightly. Fell was there.
Dropping down, he wrapped an arm around me.”
And “lifting the bundle in her arms and setting it on the waiting bed.”
There are so many more, too.
8. This book felt very YA to me, but with sex.

I know I had many issues with this book, and I said it wasn’t for me. However, it still has entertaining moments and is a book you can easily read within a day or two. It also has dragons, witches, and other creatures, exciting magic, and an interesting cliffhanger that you don’t see coming. I know that even though this won’t be mine, it will still be a favorite for many people!

Thank you, NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Sophie Jordan, for an ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.’

A Fire in the Sky is the start of a new, fast paced romantasy series. Full of adventure, danger, steam, and magic - I was barely able to put this book down. Even as I was falling asleep (exhausted mom problems), I would jolt myself back awake to keep reading. The twists were twisting, the spice was spicing, the battles were brutal, and the cliff hanger is leaving me barely hanging on.

This first installment to this kingdom and dragon centered series will be published on September 24th, and I am already desperate for book 2! This is definitely worth the read!

Well I devoured this in 2 days. I just couldn't put it down. The tension between Fell and Tamsyn just kept pulling me in. It was a very bingeable read and I had a great time with it.

There were some little things I didn't love. The author kept using repeating words and it became so often that it would pull me out of the story a little bit. The lead up to the bedding ceremony gave me intense anxiety and I nearly DNFed just to avoid it lol. And I wasn't a big fan of some of Fell's "titles" - I was not a fan of Lord Beast. But all of this was pretty minor and really did not take away from my overall enjoyment.

I would definitely recommend this if you like other romantasy books like Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, etc. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Enemies-to-lovers
Arranged marriage
Fated mates
Dragons and magic
Multiple POVs

A Fire in the Sky is an entertaining and sexy romantic fantasy. It has all the required elements: interesting worldbuilding, sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, complex grey characters, magic, and (somewhat predictable) twists. After mostly reading contemporary romance lately, I wanted to read more romantasy, and A Fire in the Sky was exactly what I needed. The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book.

A captivating dragon fantasy that will leave readers spellbound. With its intricate world-building, complex characters, and masterful plot twists, this novel stands out as a gem in the genre. Tamsyn, the unwavering protagonist, and Fell, the Viking-inspired warrior, lead a cast of memorable characters through a richly detailed medieval setting. Jordan's storytelling keeps readers engaged from start to finish, making this a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts and a strong contender for best book of the year.

A fun, quick read for the romantasy lover in your life. I really enjoyed the "twist" of the main characters and found the overall plot to be engaging.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Tamsyn was raised among royalty but is far from a princess. She is the royal whipping girl, and it is her duty to take punishment for her “sisters”. When a distant lord, Fell, known as the Beast of the Borderlands, arrives and asks to marry a princess, Tamsyn is made to wear a veil and marry in the place of a true princess. But can a marriage that begins with such treachery survive? While passion begins to develop despite a troubled beginning, there are some secrets so deeply hidden their reveal could signal destruction to an entire kingdom.

Sophie Jordan just delivered a masterclass on fantasy romance! The character development and plot felt well-balanced and perfectly paced. It is a multiple POV story and each chapter gives nuggets of world building that was easy to follow and fascinating to read. I loved Tamsyn and Fell and the medieval fantasy world they inhabit. The characters are unique yet relatable and I was rooting for them the entire book. I am so glad this is a series, beware an exhilarating cliffhanger!

This book was not exactly what I expected, I was intrigued by the thoughts of dragons and a love story.
The story told seemed so much deeper than just another love story, and to see the character transformation and how the story flows was great. I enjoyed the adventure of Tamsyn finding herself. The beginning of this book was sad for how she was treated but I felt like I could see straight through the antagonistic characters in the royal family. The only surprise was her best friend.
I was unsure how her new husband would fit into the story but that ending was perfect!
I need book 2 ASAP! Please :)
Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Jordan and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

God I wanted to love that book. Unfortunately it didn’t work for me. The instant attraction between them didn’t bother me but the zero chemistry and the awkward s*x didn’t help them and the plot. Fell is very dismissive with Tamsyn and after a ‘major’ event realise he loves her. The plot was some how very predictable. And the ending just with the ‘rescue’ and the ‘hate’ s*x scene wasn’t working for me.

The writing seem off as well and Fell is very vulgar, if it’s to give him a more brutal and raw effect, that didn’t work for me either. I just thought he was rude and crude for no reason. And when there is no major actions it felt like a long monologue of thoughts and quite repetitive. I’m actually so sad cause I wanted to live that book so much it was one of my most anticipated book of September.

DRAGONS! DRAGONS!! I honestly really enjoyed this. I read it in two days. Such an easy read with suspense and the fantasy was quite enjoyable. I really hope there is a second book because I feel like I need MORE. But if you are looking for a nice fantasy book this would be a good one.

This book was one of the strangest yet entertaining books I have ever read. The plot is memorable and vastly different than many other romantasy books out there right now. There were a few very shocking scenes, which definitely drive my interest especially in the beginning. I did see the plot twist coming, but I think it was a welcome plot point regardless. The story has quite a bit of inner dialogue, which at times dragged. While this particular writing style and story is odd for me, I can see this book being a favorite for many people. I will definitely be continuing the series to see where Tamsyn and Fell end up, the cliffhanger ending definitely left me wanting more!

I have a lot of mixed thoughts about this book. I’ve always felt like Sophie Jordan’s writing style is very basic and very quick and this transition from historical to fantasy was interesting. I felt like the writing was pretty flat most of the book, a little bit repetitive, but overall I enjoyed it despite how lackluster of a review I’m giving it rn 🤣 Sometimes fantasy authors cause try so flipping hard to build this epic world and it drags on and their expansive phrases strangle me to death. This book though I feel like could’ve used a bit of a fantasy boost. Just. Give it a little bit more flavor in the writing style.

I liked these characters, I liked the premise, the little twisty ending there was uh. Idk. Idk how I feel about it. I honestly loled like whuuuuuuttt the fuuuuhhhhhh at multiple times throughout this book and I don’t understand what the hell is going on but who ever does in fantasy, amiright?

I need more people to read this for further discussion.

Will be continuing this because despite everything I’ve said I enjoy Sophie Jordan and I enjoyed this book.

I could not put this book down. I was enthralled from the beginning to the end. Everything ran together well and, every chapter I had to keep reading because I needed to know what happened next. I enjoyed the characters, even though I think they could’ve used more depth. The ending was gripping, and leaves many different options for a second book! This book reads like a SJM book, where everything happens in the last 15% of the book but wowza was it enjoyable.
I would’ve loved some more world building and a larger confrontation in terms of storyline, but I can see that coming in future books. Even though I would’ve liked more from this book, I couldn’t put it down, so I have to give it 4 stars. I’m looking forward to the next book, would definitely recommend!

Whooo boy I DEVOURED this book in one day! Sophie Jordan doesn't pull any punches with this one. The characters were compelling, the plot moved quickly and the stakes were high throughout the story. If fantasy isn't your usual genre I'd still check this out because it has just enough worldbuilding to flesh out the world but not so much that it devolves into infodumping. The plot was so engaging and I fell HARD for our main character. There's something so angsty about whipping girl/boy characters. I adored how Sophie Jordan allowed Tamsyn to feel complex feelings about the people who raised her but also allowed her to be hurt. It was incredibly cathartic to read about her untangling all those complicated feelings about her upbringing. Arranged marriage is perhaps my favorite trope so I was thrilled when the story went in that direction. I felt for both our leads as they were placed in a complicated situation and it was an absolute joy to see Tamsyn find someone who would finally pay attention and actually see her for who she is (and not just a tool to be used). I felt so many things reading this book and now I am on the edge of my seat waiting for book 2!!